BOOK TAKES NEW LOOK AT A DYNAMIC INDUSTRY

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - To help the chemical process industries adjust to the conditions of a global economy, University of Arkansas chemical engineering professors James R. Couper and W. Roy Penney have written The Chemical Process Industries Infrastructure: Function and Economics for students and industry professionals.

"Corporate restructuring has made it more essential that engineers be generalists, able to deal with customers, marketing, and purchasing as well as upper management," said Couper. "Practicing professionals and students embarking on a career in chemical engineering need to have a broad knowledge of how these industries function and how they are affected by both domestic and global forces."

Unfortunately, textbooks commonly in use are too old to address current market conditions. To meet this challenge, Couper and Penney, along with industry consultant Tom Beasley, have written their book to address the function and economics of the chemical process industry and its impact on the manufacturing sector. Published by Marcel Dekker, The Chemical Process Industries Infrastructure: Function and Economics is a reference book for chemical industry professionals at all levels.

In addition to the overall treatment of process economics, the authors present studies of selected industries to illustrate the rapid changes occurring. Through this process, the book details many of the problems and concerns that management of chemical enterprises confront, especially with respect to marketing strategies, domestic and global competition, reduction of operating expenses and government regulations.

Jim Couper, emeritus professor of chemical engineering, is the author of Applied Finance and Economic Analysis for Scientists and Engineers, published by Van Nostrand Reinhold. Roy Penney is professor of chemical engineering at the University of Arkansas and co-author of "Gas Absorption and Gas-Liquid System Design" in Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook. Tom Beasley was a process engineering, distribution and marketing manager for Union Carbide and served for 15 years as president of Chemical Market Associates, Inc. He is currently a consultant for the chemical industry.

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Jim Couper, emeritus professor of chemical engineering, (479) 575-4951; coup@ipa.net

Carolyne Garcia, science and research communication officer, (479) 575-5555; cgarcia@uark.edu